T HE 



LIFE AND ADVENTURES 



JAMES F. O'CONNELL, 



THE TATTOOED MAN, 



DURING A RESIDENCE OF ELEVEN YEARS IN NEW 
HOLLAND AND THE CAROLINE ISLANDS. 



NEW- YORK : 
W. APPLEGATE, POINTER, 17 ANN STREET, 

1845. 



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\V 



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LIFE AND ADVENTURES 

OF 

JAMES F. O'COXNELL. 



I was born in Dublin, on the 10th of November, 1808. The 
first thing I remember of childhood is, being an inmate of a 
school at Monaster Evean, about forty miles from Dublin ; 
whence myself and two sisters were, one day, forwarded to 
Dublin, and shipped to Liverpool, consigned to the landlord of 
my father's boarding-house. We arrived in the evening, and 
he carried us to the circus. I can recollect, as distinctly as 
though it were yesterday, my childish astonishment at what 
appeared to me, the magnificence of the building, the glare of 
light, the gorgeous tinsel ornaments, and, more than all, the 
superhuman feats of the ring. The drolleries of the clown 
filled me with a childish delight, which nothing in after years 
has paralleled. I thought the riders the most remarkable and 
enviable beings I had ever happened upon. Did I inherit this 
passion or not. When I was told that one of the troupe was 
my mother, and a person sparkling with jewels was pointed 
out to me as that mother, I would not have exchanged my pa- 
rentage for that of a duke. I could hardly refrain from throw- 
ing myself into the ring, to assert, before the audience, my 
claim to a portion of their applause, as the son of the person 
they were so loudly cheering. 

Our first meeting with our parents, after a five years' sepa- 
ration, took place in my mother's dressing-room. She stifled 
our expressions of wonder at her princely vocation, by mater- 
nal caressess, more tender and repeated than gentle. 

I spent about a year with my parents, and then went in 
company with an uncle, who was also an equestrian, to Lon- 
don. My uncle did not keep a very strict eye upon me, and I 
spent my time in lounging about Deptford and wapping. Here 
I formed an acquaintance with the sailors, and, at length, Cap- 



6 

tain Salmon, of the ship Phoenix, took a fancy to me, and with- 
out the knowledge or consent of any of my friends, I shipped 
as cabin-boy on board his vessel. 

A short time after I joined her at Deptford, she moved down 
to Woolwich, to take in live freight ; being chartered by Gov- 
ernment for the transportation of female convicts to Botany 
Bay. 

Here were two hundred *• ladies" — for so I suppose we are 
bound to style them — put on board of ship for the purpose of 
being conveyed many thousand miles from their native land, 
and what was probably worse for them, obliged to labor honest- 
ly for their bread. A few of them appeared to regret their 
fate, and perhaps were about to leave sweethearts behind them. 
But the majority appeared to revel in the prospect of a change 
of scene, and doubtless, thought themselves peculiarly fortu- 
nate in being able to take a voyage free of expense. If occa- 
sionally a cloud would pass over their minds at the thought of 
leaving dear friends behind, it was quickly dispelled by the 
reflection that a re-union with those friends at Botany Bay 
was more than probable. 

After a passage of five months, we came within sight of the 
rocky heads of Sydney Cove. Here was a meeting of friends ; 
and, if on leaving the shores of old England, there had been 
some tears dropped at the severing of attached hearts, they 
were amply compensated by the joyous greetings which at- 
tended our arrival at Botany Bay. 

After lingering about this place awhile, I shipped in 1822, 
on board a vessel called the Cape Packet, Capt. Dillon, bound 
on a whaling cruise. She was a half-rigged brig, of between 
one and two hundred tons, and was owned by a Mr. Haynes, 
who had formerly been a convict. 

At that time the Sydney whalers were almost the only ves- 
sels that cruised to the north of New-Holland ; since then the 
American and English whalers have made free with the levi- 
athans that sport in those waters. 

In the Cape Packet, seven of the hands were natives of the 
South Sea Islands, called kanakas. We had been five months 
on the ground and were taking the jacket from the last whale 
necessary for completing our cargo, when a white squall came 
frothing along the water, until the sea looked, as far as the eye 
could reach, as if it was filled with white cats coming to take 
our vessel by storm. As the squall struck us, we fell upon our 
beam-ends. All was now confusion ; the vessel lay with her 
keel out of water, struggling and working like a living thing 
against the power of the elements. Another moment and the 
topsail and jib went to tatters; her light spars snapped and 



fell to leeward ; the first fury of the squall was over ; the re- 
sistenceof our vessel to the wind was lessened, and she right- 
ed quivering and trembling. A steadier gale, accompanied by 
thunder and lightning, followed ; yet when we contrasted this 
storm with the horrors of the white squall, we indulged a feel- 
ing of security. This feeling was, however, but momentary, 
for the appalling fact was almost immediately ascertained that, 
racked and riven by the tempest, our vessel was rapidly filling. 

Before r we could clear the stern and quarter boats from the 
davit tackles, their keels were in the water, and our utmost ex- 
ertion was necessary to prevent their being swamped under the 
davit heads. Each of the crew consulted his own safety. We 
stripped the harness cask of its contents and shoved away from 
alongside in haste, to escape the vortex which we supposed 
would be caused by her singing. We might, however, have 
been more deliberate, as even after she was water-logged, we 
could, while daylight lasted, see the stun*ps of her masts. 

In the boat with myself were five of the kanakas. We put 
into the boat from the vessel, only some pork and beef from 
the harness cask ; but every whale-boat is supplied with a 
compass, a tinder-box, and a water keg, in addition to the ap- 
paratus for destroying whales. The water keg, however, was 
nearly empty, and the excitement of danger and escape pro- 
duced such a thirst on the part of the kanakas, that they drank 
ail the water before I felt an inclination to drink. This did 
not vex me much as I believed we were only about fifty miles 
from the land. We were, however, four days in reaching it, 
and during that time, four of my kanaka companions died of 
thirst and exhaustion. The surviving kanaka, proposed to eat 
of the body of the last oiae that died. I shuddered with 
disgust, and he gave over the idea. Even then we were in 
sight of land, but so completely exhausted from' hunger, fa- 
tigue, and want of sleep, that we could no longer make exer- 
tion to reach it. My wrists were swollen and weak ; my feet 
having been in the water at the bottom of the boat, were 
shrivelled and raw. We resigned our boat to the mercy of the 
waves, and were drifted on shore to a level sandy beach. 
Hoasts of the natives, who had long discovered our boat as it 
slowly drifted to the shore, waded out, took it by the head and 
hauled it up. Some of them immediately stepped into it and 
plundered it of every thing movable — oars, irons, lances, tubs, 
&c. The reader may be curious to know why they did not 
put off to us in their canoes ; but the aboriginees of ]New-Hol- 
land have no canoes in which they venture upon the sea at ail 
— as their boats are the rudest known, inefficient and clumsy, 
like every thing else belonging to them. We were too weak to 



8 

stand erect, and upon reaching the beach, sank in the sand. 
We made earnest gestures for water, but they paid no attention 
to our wants till they had stripped U3 of every article of cloth- 
ing; then some water was brought us in calabashes, and some 
of the flesh of the kangaroo and bandycoot. Refreshed by 
these, we lay down to sleep under the native blanket — a wide 
strip of bark doubled — and never before was sleep so delight- 
ful or refreshing to me. 

Eight or nine months spent among these savages, gave me 
time to observe their habits ; for my ignorance of the country, 
and the hindrance of the natives, so impeded my progress, that 
it occupied all that time in travelling from the place where the 
Cape Packet was wrecked, to Port Macquarrie. 

At and about Port Macquarrie, and to the north of that set- 
tlement, the aboriginees of New-Holland are probably more 
savage and filthy in their habits, and less acquainted with any- 
thing like art, than on any other part of the continent. In the 
southern and western parts, the natives have something like 
houses, but in nearly every other part of the country, bark shel- 
ter answers every purpose, and under this they sleep, A large 
fire is built at one end to keep away Poioyan, the devil, whose 
power is recognized by all the tribes. Like many other sava- 
ges, they think it more necessary to curry favor with their devil 
than to worship the good spirit. "When a thunder storm comes 
up, they prostrate themselves to the earth, and their shoutings 
and howlings are intended for worship. 

They are divided into small tribes, and in some few of theie, 
hereditary chiefs hold sway; in others, might makes right, and 
the strongest assert a rule per force. 'The connecting link be- 
tween apes and men, they have generally less resemblance to 
the African negro than the New-Zealander, and particularly, 
when old, resemble the monkey more than other human beings 
do. In stature, they are generally above the middle size, and 
their bodies bear an apish proportion to their legs, those limbs 
being shorter than a European, while the arms appear longer. 
In complexion, they vary from copper colour to black ; the lat- 
ter being generally the least ferocious race. Marriage is an in- 
stitution hardly recognized, and often dissolved at will. Upon 
the birth of twins, one is killed ; and white or mulatto children 
of black mothers are butchered as soon as born, the husband 
acting the executioner, and the mother consenting. 

Cannibalism is a trait found more or less among the tribes on 
all parts of the continent, but principally on the northern part. 
I have seen parts of human bodies in the bags which the wo- 
men carry on their backs ; and am convinced, from direct oral 
accounts, in which I put credit, that even abandoned white 



runaways, after a residence with the natives, learn to eat hu- 
man flesh. 

On my oveiland jaunt from the north coast to Port Mac- 
quarrie, I encountered, with one tribe, two runaway convict 
women, and with another a convict man. They had become 
so utterly degraded, as to be scarce above the savages in their 
habits ; wore next to no clothing, and fell into their indolent 
and filthy mode of existence. 

After remaining at Port Macquarrie about six weeks, I was 
shipped to Sydney as a runaway convict. My story had the 
less weight, because instances are not unfiequently of convicts 
stumbling upon penal or other settlements in their wanderings, 
and many could tell as good a story as mine, in every thing 
but the slight circumstance of truth. Happy to find a convey- 
ance back to Sydney, I embarked. 

In or about the year 1826, I shipped in the barque John Bull, 
whaler, Captain Backus. After we had been from Sydney 
about four months, we put in at the Bay Islands, New- Zea- 
land. Bishop Marsden, at that time on a visit to New-Zea- 
land, from his residence at Paramatta, put on board of us a mis- 
sionary who was appointed to Strong's Island, one of the Caro- 
line Archipelago, with his wife and daughter. We wereto 
cruise among the islands towards Japan, with the intention to 
reach the shores of Japan at a particular season when whales were 
supposed to frequent the sea of Japan. At eight months out, 
we had taken about eight hundred barrels of oil, and were en- 
deavoring to make Strong's Island to leave our passengers. At 
nightfall we had made no land, but knew from observation and 
the ship's log, that we were within a day's sail of our destina- 
tion. We were bowling along under easy sail, the wind on our 
quarter, when, at about eight o'clock in the evening, the ves- 
sel struck on a concealed coral reef, which is not laid down in 
the charts. Captain Backus was, as usual, drunk on the hen- 
coop, when the vessel struck. The boats were lowered ; but 
notwithstanding the necessary precipitation with which we 
prepared to leave the vessel, the boat in which I escaped was 
furnished with provisions and arms, and we were able also to 
take away some amunition and little portable articles. In the 
boat with myself were five seamen, and the wife and daughter 
of the missionary. He was in the boat with the captain. In 
the four boats the whole crew escaped from the vessel. For 
five or six hours we kept together, but when the morning dawn- 
ed, there was only one of the other boats discernable, and that 
but faintly, a long distance a stern, as we crested a wave. 
Even in a latitude, which must have been within fifteen de- 
grees of the equator, anight passed without sleep or food, in an 



10 

open boat, washed by a continual breaking of the sea over it, 
chilled our frames ; we were faint, cold, weak, and dispirited. 
But the sufferings of the ladies engrossed more of our care 
than our own situation. As I sat steering, I folded the shiver- 
ing sobbing daughter to my body with my left arm, while two 
of my shipmates assisted in protecting her by placing them- 
selves on each side. The mother was similiarly cared for by 
other seamen. We tendered them parts of our clothing, but 
could not persuade or induce them to accept anything of the 
kind. The suffering of these women was indeed great ; but 
in all their affliction they bore holy testimony to the efficacy of 
that religion whose messengers they were ; their fortitude 
might have put even some of their male associates in misfor- 
tune to the blush. On shipboard, before our misfortune, the 
discreet and feeling manner in which they strove to impress 
upon rude sailors .the truths of religion, had convinced all of 
their sincerity at least. In the boat we had more affecting 
proof : they prayed frequently and fervently, and there were 
none to scoff. 

Broiling heat succeded the chills of night ; the wind abated, 
flattened ; at noon we were becalmed, dying with heat and fa- 
tigue upon a sea whose dead swell was as smooth as glass. 
After two days and three nights' exposure, the daughter died 
at about ten o'clock on the third day. For some hours before 
she had been apparently unconscious of her situation. She 
had talked in her wanderings, of her father, of her home, and 
of the island to which she was destined on an errand of mercy. 
The mother was by suffering so far bereft of sensibility, that 
the death of her child hardly moved her. She scarcely ap- 
peared to understand us when we informed her of it ; or, if she 
did, the anouncement was received with delirious joy. With 
as much attention to the forms of civilized society, as our sit- 
uation would permit, we committed the body to the ocean. 
The mother, in her weak state, hardly uttered a comment, and 
n a few hours, followed her daughter. 

Upon the next morning after performing these melancholy 
duties, we made the land. We had been in the boat three 
days and four nights • but, rejoiced as we were to make the 
land, no immediate prospect of profitting by it appeared ; for it 
was circled by a coral reef, in which it was past noon before 
we discovered an opening. Effecting a passage, we entered a 
smooth basin of water, and saw hundreds of canoes launching 
and putting off to us. They would approach within a short 
distance, then suddenly retreat, and at length commenced 
showering stones, arrows, and other missiles upon us. We 
threw ourselves in the bottom of the boat ; aud when they had 





11 

satisfied themselves that we could or would offer no resistence, 
they were emboldened to make a rush upon the boat, which 
they towed to the beach. After we were landed they stripped 
us of our clothing, and took every thing out of the boat — whale 
irons, tubs, muskets, &c. The boat was then hauled up on 
the beach, and our company, six in number, were led to the 
canoe-house. Besides myself, they consisted of George Kee- 
nan, an Irishman belonging to Dublin ; John Johnson, an En- 
glishman ; Edward Bradford, of Bristol ; John Thompson, of 
Liverpool ; and John Williams, of London. Of the native 
places of the two last named persons I am not positive. 

We were seated in the centre of the canoe-house on mats ; 
and yams, bread fruit, plaintains, bananas, fish, bits of cold 
game, were brought to us. The building was filled in every 
chink by natives, seated; the men with crossed legs like Turks, 
and the women on their heels. A constant buzz of conversa- 
tion ran through the assembly, each talking to his neighbour 
and gesticulating violently. Parties of two or three would 
come down to where we sat, walking with their bodies bent al- 
most double. They took hold of our persons very familiarly, 
women and men, and gave frequent clucks of admiration at 
the blue veins which were marked through our skins, on parts 
of the body which had not been usually exposed to be bronzed 
by the sun. My companions feared the Indians were cannibals, 
and that this examination was to discover whether we were in 
good roasting case, — a horrible supposition,— which was 
strengthened by the building of two or three wood fires cover- 
ed with small stones. Their fear was so excessive that they 
gave themselves up for lost ; but, as I had been somewhat ac- 
quainted with the manners of the inhabitants of other islands, 
1 reasoned, from the apparent good humor of these people, that 
they intended us no harm. 

In a sort of desperate feeling of recklessness, I determined to 
try the experiment of dancing upon our savage audience. I 
proposed it to my comrades, and they endeavored to reason me 
out of what they esteemed criminal, thoughtless conduct, in 
the view of a horrid death. The prospect was none of the 
most agreeable certainly ; but I was determined on my experi- 
ment despite their remonstrances. I accordingly sprung to my 
feet, and took an attitude. A cluck of pleasure ran through 
the savages, and one of them, readily understanding my inten- 
tion, spread a mat for me. I struck into Garry Owen, and 
figured away in that famous jig to the best of my ability and 
agility ; and my new acquaintances were amazingly delighted 
thereat. There was no loud acclamation, but anxious peering 
and peeping over each other's shoulders, the universal cluck 



12 

sounding all over the house. Before my dance was finished, 
the cause for which the fires were built became apparent, to the 
no small relief of my comrades. It was ascertained that the 
roasting preparations were made, not for us, but for some quad- 
rupeds, which we afterwards found were dogs. Other prepar- 
ations were making for a feast, and after my dance was con- 
cluded, each of us was surrounded by a group of natives who 
could not sufficiently admire and examine us. The natives 
continued to treat us with great hospitality and kindness. 

Upon the fourth day after our landing, there was an arrival 
of a fleet of canoes — the head and other chiefs. "We were 
again inspected by the new comers, and it was my fortune to 
be selected, with my shipmate George Keenan, by the princi- 
pal chief. On the morrow my new friend — or master, or 
owner — left the Island upon which we landed, taking with him 
Keenan and myself. Eight or nine hours carried us to his 
island, where new feasting and lionizing awaited us. 

A grand feast celebrated the return of the chief to his house, 
at which I repeated the Irish jig which had taken so well upon 
my first landing. I have no doubt that in my heels was found 
the attraction which led the chief to select me from among my 
comrades, We had been about three days at our new residence, 
when some of the natives began showing us their tattooed arms 
and legs, and making signs not entirely intelligible to us at 
first, though their meaning became afterwards too painfully 
marked. On the fourth or fifth day, George Keenan and my- 
self were put on board of a canoe with six natives. They 
paddled a short distance along the shore of the island, and then 
tumed into a creek wide at the mouth, but soon narrowing till 
there was not room for two canoes abreast. It was completely 
arched over with dependant branches of trees ; and altogether 
the scene was romantic and would have been pleasing if we 
had not been so utteily in the dark as to the purpose of the 
journey. At length we reached a hut in which we were left 
by our conductors. After we had waited there sometime, our 
suspense was relieved by the entrance of five or six women, 
hearing implements, the use of which we were soon taught. 
George was made to set in one corner of the room, and I in the 
other, half the women with me and the other half with my 
companion. One of ray women produced a calabash of black 
liquid ; another took my left hand, squeezing it in hers, so as 
to draw the flesh tight across the back ; then a little sliver of 
bamboo was dipped in the liquid and applied to my hand, upon 
which it left a straight black mark. The third beauty then 
produced a small flat piece of wood with thorns pierced through 
one end ; this she dipped in the black liquid, then rested the 



13 

points of the thorns on the mark on my hand, and with a sud- 
den blow from a stick, drove the thorns into my flesh. One 
needs must when the devil drives; so I summoned all my forti- 
tude, set my teeth, and bore it like a martyr. Between every 
blow my beauty dipped her thorns in the ink. 

I was too much engaged in -my own agreeable employment 
to watch my comrade, but George soon let me hear from him. 
He swore and raved without any attention to rule ; the way he 
did it was profane, but not syntaxical or rhetorical. He wished 
all sorts of bloody murder to light on his tormentors; prayed 
that the island might be sunk by an earthquake ; hoped forty 
boats' crews from a squadron of aimed ships would land and 
catch the blasted savages tormenting the king's subjects. All 
this availed nothing but to amuse the women ; and even I 
could not forbear a smile at his exclamations. The operators 
suspended their work to mimic him, and mocked his spasmo- 
dic twitches of the arms and horrid gestures. He wau a stand- 
ing butt for it long afterwards, and when the natives wished to 
revile him, they would act the tattooing scene, ending with the 
exclamation, u Narlic-a-nutt mucha purk " — Narlic-a-nutt (his 
name) is a coward ; "Jim Aroche ma coo mot" — Jim Chief 
brave ! After my executioner had battered my hand awhile, 
she wiped it with a sponge. I hoped she had finished ; but 
no ! She held my hand up, squinted at the lines, as a carpen- 
ter would true a board ; then she begun again, and this was 
worse than the first job. When the women had done with 
my hand, they rubbed it over with cocoa-nut oil and pulverized 
charcoal. The women then left us, and we were permitted 
to eat. 

In the afternoon there came a fresh supply of ladies, who 
continued tattooing operations on my left arm. On the next 
morning my hand was puffed up into aldermanic proportions ; 
but, after breakfast the ladies came to decorate us still farther. 
George howled piteously and succeeded in begging off, but I 
was informed that I could on no account be excused. Eight 
days were occupied in tattooing the various parts of my corpora- 
tion ; but, fortunately being a small man, the ground of opera- 
tions was not so extensive as it would have been had 1 laid 
claim to more inches. The hair on my body was twitched out 
with sea-shells, -as dexterously as pin-feathers are substracted 
from the flesh of a goose. It was a whole month before I re- 
covered from the effects of this treatment, being anointed con- 
tinually with oil and coal, which proved a sort of cosmetic not 
very favorable to the delicacy of the skin. 

To relieve our weariness, George made a flute of a reed, and 
a fiddle of some light wood ; while I, on my part, had music in 



14 

my sole. Our retirement proved tedious, notwithstanding all 
that Zimmerman hath said on solitude. The parrots squawled 
and the dogs howled at a distance, and the scene was romantic 
enough ; but I was more given to dancing than sublime con- 
templation. 

We were heartily rejoiced wiien the canoe was manned to 
carry us back to the war canoe-house. I came from the tattoo 
hospital, a horse of a different color from that which I had 
when I entered it, being tattooed on my left hand, on both 
arms, legs, thighs, back and abdomen. George had escaped 
with a few stripes on the left arm, and those were unfinished. 
On our return a feast awaited us, and George fiddled and piped, 
while I danced. 

I had supposed that my tattooing was over, but now by the 
Chief : s direction, one of his daughters prepared to mark me 
still more. She tattooed a ring under myJright breast, another 
under my left shoulder, and two about my right arm. This 
was but the prick of a needle to the extensive printing business 
which had been prosecuted upon my body at the tattoo-house, 
and I made no complaint. 

The feasting continued during the day ; many dogs barked 
their last ; jagow in abundance was mauled to express its juice ; 
and my comrade for his fife, and myself for my heels, were in 
excellent odor with the natives. Singing and dancing with 
feasting, and the arrival of distinguished strangers, lasted all 
the second day ; and it was not until night, that I began to 
suspect what it all tended to. At night I learned that the 
young lady who imprinted the last marks upon my. arm and 
breast, was my wife ! that last tattooing being part of the 
marriage ceremony. 

Upon the third morning my bride led me away to the bath, 
and the day was spent in feasting and dancing. There was no 
quarrelling or disturbance, no uproar or disorder. George also 
was provided with a wife ; but his unwillingness to submit to 
the process of tattooing, wedded him to a women of no rank — 
she, however, proved a good women to him. 

My father-in-law was Ahoundell-a-Nutt, Chief of the island 
of Nutt, and the most powerful chief on tho group of islands 
enclosed by the reef — set down on the charts as one island — 
Ascension, but called by the natives Bonabee. I resided under 
the same roof with him ; he gave me his own name, Ahoundel, 
but I was more frequently called Jem-aroche. George Keenan's 
island name was Narlic. 

My wife was only about fourteen years of age — affection- 
ate, faithful, and fond of baked dogs. During my residence 
on the island she presented me with two little demi-savages, a 



15 

girl and boy — the latter of whom 6tands a chance, in his turn, 
to succeed his grandfather in the government of the island. 

My wife endeavored to instruct me in the language, and al- 
though I was a tolerably apt scholar, yet my teacher had a 
very critical ear, and the least deviation from the island pro- 
nunciation, created vast merriment both for her and others 
present. My wife accompanied me in my walks and in my 
canoe excursions ; always at my side, and looking up to me as 
affectionately as ever a novel-schooled miss could, and with 
twice as much sincerity. My father-in-law, who was a practi- 
cal joker, continued, in the excursions in which he accompa- 
nied us during the lengthened honey-moon, to pop upon places 
where he knew that the residents had never seen me. He 
Would direct me to enter a house suddenly, with a howl, and 
strike an attitude. It would invariably send all the occupants, 
usually women, flying out at every place of egress. The sight 
of Ahoundel on the outside, enjoying a hearty laugh, would 
remove fear, and this rude method of introduction supplied 
both parties, the visiters and the visited, with rare amusement. 

To excursions without him, Ahoundel was very adverse. 
He would, in answer to my inquiries about other islands, tell 
me they were inhabited by cannibals, and assured me that if I 
ventured away from him, I should certainly be eaten. George 
and I, if we took excursions, did so in a canoe borrowed of 
fishermen, because we could not launch our own unperceived. 
Afraid of being eaten w r e kept near the island, sailing round it 
and paddling up the creeks. When we were near a settlement 
George would take a fife and make its shrill notes echo in the 
still valleys and mountains,— " Narlic ! Narlic ! ' Narlic ! Nar- 
lic !"— we should soon hear the natives shouting, as they came 
running down to the creek side, " Narlic, cudjong ! cudjong!" 
Cudjong was the name which the natives had bestowed upon 
George's fife. We would be invited on shore, and when in- 
clined to dance I used to land and shake a leg for their edifi- 
cation. 

Accustomed to polygamy, the Carolinean woman sees noth- 
ing shocking in the system of a pleurality of wives. It were 
nonsense to assert that there is no jealousy and quarreling— 
as it would be asserting a position contradicted by reason and 
the nature of things. Even in christian countries we often see 
that one wife is enough to quarrel with ; and it is not to be 
imagined that Laowui (that was her name) and myself had 
none of the disputes which appear incidental to conjugal life. 

Upon one occasion, when 1 was sick, a journey was project- 
ed, as was the usual course with invalids ; I however refused 
to be cured in that way, preferring ease and quiet. All the 



16 

preparations having been made for the journey, it was taken 
without me. I thought my wife might have had the grace to 
remain at home with her sick spouse, but she chose to accom- 
pany her father. Upon her return I had pretty well recovered, 
and I welcomed her by taking my wedding gift — a few blue 
beads— from her basket, and breaking them between two 
stones, before her eyes. As soon as I had done the mischief, 
Laowni ran from the house to a stone in the edge of the water, 
where she set down and commenced crying like an infant. I 
followed, and endeavored to pacify her, but it was of no use ; 
the only answer she made was to kick like a spoiled child, 
The tide followed in till she was in water to her elbows ; then 
I was enabled to coax her away, but still she ceased not bel- 
lowing for her beads. If I had bitten off her finger, it w T ould 
certainly have grieved her less. At night I went to sleep and 
left her weeping. She had refused to eat, though fish and the 
most delicate bits of roasted dog had been offered her. Hap- 
pening, however, to awake at midnight, I detected her solacing 
her grief with a dog's drum stick ; but in the morning I found 
her still pouting. All day she wore the same sulks, giving 
me an occasional look of any thing but affection, but without 
saying a word. At night I took George with me, and instead 
of sleeping in the canoe-house, w T hich was then Ahoundel's 
quarters, went to his house proper. There we built a small 
fire for its light, and just as we had propounded to each other 
the sage conclusion, that his Majesty of Nutt and family w T ere 
not in the best humor, we were surprised with a visit from that 
dignitary himself, accompanied by a native — who was particu- 
lary indebted to me for detecting him in stealing my knife — 
and two others, all armed with spears. Without saying a 
word they sat down at a little distance, biting their nether lips, 
as is always the custom when vexed or in a pa3sion. I en- 
quired the reason of their visit, but received no answer. 
George shivered beside me like a leaf, though I assured him 
he need fear nothing, as the visit was undoubtedly intended 
solely for me. At length one agreeable state of suspense was 
relieved by the appearance of Laowni, who beckoned them 
outside, and we saw nothing more of them. 

This adventure showed the danger of offending the daughter 
of a man who could take my life with impunity, although 
Ahoundel respected the courage with which I faced him — a 
courage as much affected as real. 

With these people, after George and I had become habituated 
to their customs, and learned to appreciate their character, we 
resigned ourselves to circumstances, and were content in the 
absence of almost all hope of escape, to be happy. In about a 



IT 

year from oitr arrival, Ahoundel grew a little lees cautioua 
about our wandering ; a forced remission of care, as we had 
become too well acquainted with the people to believe them all 
cannibals. Still he insisted upon our being frequently in his 
company. The difficulty with Laowni* which I have men* 
tioned, and my father-in-law's conduct on that occasion, in 
which I suspected he was instigated by Namadow, left my situ- 
ation not quite so pleasant as before* Ahoundel seemed dispos- 
ed to repair bis harshness with over affection, and it was with 
the utmost difficulty that George and I obtained permission to 
leave Nutt for twenty-four hours. 

Outside the reef which bounds Bonabee are two islands, one 
called by the natives Hand, about twenty miles distant; the 
other Pokeen, about sixty miles distant* The latter called on 
the charts Wellington Island, is inhabited ; Hand is not. The 
inhabitants of Wellington Island resemble those of Bonabee, 
except that they are addicted to cannibalism, a practice which 
is unknown on Bonabee, except, perhaps, so far as tasting an 
enemy's heart goes. Hand is visited for its cocoanuts, which 
are very abundant. Keenan and myself visited it once, and 
found it bounded by a reef, through which there is but one 
passage. Boche ie mere was deposited in large quantities upon 
the sand at low tide. We were detained by a storm longer 
than we bargained for, being tveather bound ten days. 

Upon Wellington Island we remained nearly six months. 
The language was essentially the same as at Bonabee ; the 
customs, similar ; the three casts of people also existed there. 
It is oftener visited by vessels than Bonabee, as the bits of 
iron hoop, an officer's coat, and other articles in the possession 
of the natives proved. Boche le mere and tortoise shell were 
plentiful; the latter in possession of the islanders, and the 
former neglected from an ignorance of the method and means 
to cure it. The natives of Wellington Island are in the habit 
of frequently visiting Bonabee, bringing presents of mats, fruits, 
and other articles ; and it wag upon the return of a party from 
Wellington that we visited their island. I did not believe, till 
my visit, that the natives of Wellington Island were cannibals ; 
then I had occular demonstration. It seemed with them an 
ungovernable passion ; the victims being not only captives, 
but presents to the chiefs from parents, who appeared to es- 
teem the acceptance of their children, for a purpose so horrid, 
an honor. Wellington Island laid down on the chart as one, 
is in fact, three islands bound by a reef. One of them is in- 
habited, and the other two are uninhabited spots, claimed by 
different chiefs, as if to afford a pretext for war, and the gratifi- 
cation of their horrible passion lor human flesh. 



18 

Shortly after our return from Pokeen or Wellington Island, 
our four comrades, Johnson, Brayford, Thompson, and Wil- 
liams, paid us a visit, as had been their occasional custom. The 
reader may well imagine we enjoyed these opportunities to re- 
vive old associations, and speculate upon the chances of our es- 
cape from Bonabee. 

Upon this occasion, our comrades proposed to George and 
me, that we should leave Nutt, and spend a twelvemonth with 
them, dividing the time with the different chiefs with whom 
they were quartered, and devoting the first month to an excur- 
sion from island to island. This proposition was eagerly em- 
braced by us. I had frequently expressed to Ahoundel a wish 
to the same effect, but he uniformly refused his consent. My 
visit to Wellington Island was protracted, by the strength of 
the north-east trades, much beyond his pleasure ; and, al- 
though this was not my fault, that long absence had so proved 
the necessity of my presence to him, that it made him averse 
to my going from his sight : a fatherly solicitude that was 
horribly annoying. Knowing therefore the certain answer to 
an application for leave of absence, I determined to take liberty 
without. What I fancied a good opportunity soon offered. 
Ahoundel, and his whole household and connexions, launched 
the canoe for an excursion or visit. I was excused from the 
party on account of the presence of my friends, who declined 
accompanying Ahoundel. When they were fairly off, we 
stepped into the canoe, but had hardly got under weigh, when 
a rascally nigurt, who had evidently been watching us, shoved 
his canoe off and paddled before, us like lightning, shoving, or 
rather poling his canoe over the shallows, and working like a 
windmiller in a gale with his single paddle in the deep water. 
When he reached a creek or inlet, into which we knew Ahoun- 
del had turned, he shot up the opening, and we began to see 
his intention, and the meaning of the hoohooing he had kept 
up in preceding us. In a few moments we saw the canoes of 
Ahoundel in pursuit : we used paddle and sail, and cracked 
on, esteeming it more a frolic than anything else. As we had 
the start, it was nearly two hours before they neared us enough 
to be within hailing distance. They then commenced fair 
promises if we would stop; offering us fish and bread-fruit, and 
yams, and using all the logic of persuasion of which they 
were capable. Still we cracked on ; but Ahoundel's canoe at 
length shoved alongside of us, upon the weather or outrigger 
side, and we gave up the race as useless. My friend Nama- 
dow was the first to lay hold of the outrigger, and gave us the 
first intimation of their rough intentions, by endeavouring to 
capsize us. We bung to windward to trim the boat, and find- 



19 

ing his strength ineffectual to upset it, he had the brazen im- 
pudence to climb on the platform with the intention to board 
us. In the heat of the moment I administered a settler with 
my first which knocked him into the water: then half a dozen 
of the Indians laid hold of our outrigger at once, and thinking 
it useless to struggle against such odds, we all jumped out of 
the canoe. Others of Ahoundel's fleet had by this time gather- 
ed around us. and the Indians commenced beating U3 with the 
flat sides of the paddles whenever we showed our heads. Our 
canoe was smashed to pieces, and my comrades were allowed 
to climb into others in the fleet, without much beating ; indeed, 
they were assisted in; but I did not fare so well. Ahoundel 
made frequent feints with his spear, and so did others, but not 
one was thrown, nor had any person any such mnrderous in- 
tentions ; as I afterwards learned their orders was to frighten 
and beat, but not to hurt : a consoling circumstance of which 
I had not then the benefit, but considered myself a case. Du- 
ring all this time my father-in-law was upraiding me with ray 
ingratitude, reminding me of my rank, connexions, wife, and 
the benefits he had heaped upon me. I protested my purpose 
was only to make an excursion with the intention to return. 
The paddle pounding had ceased after the first attack, and this 
conversation was carried on, or rather his scolding, while I 
was eyeing the spears and dodging in anticipation of the blows. 
I made several attempts to climb into Ahoundel's canoe, but 
my particular friend, who had by this time been fished out of 
the water, rapped my fingers with his paddle as soon as they 
clasped the gunwale. The fleet, which had received additions 
from Nutt, of people who came out of curiosity, seeing the 
fray, now turned towards Nutt again; and Jem Aroche, chief 
as he was, was fain to crawl into the canoe of a nigurt and 
return to the house of his father-in-law. My shipmates ac- 
companied me, and Ahoundel satisfied that I should not repeat 
my attempt to escape, proceeded on his excursion. No women 
accompanied oiir pursuers, as they were set on shore before 
the chase commenced. 

Three or four days passed before Ahoundel and his party re- 
turned. During that time I had ample opportunity for reflec- 
tion, and acknowledged to myself that my punishment was 
not altogether undeserved, as my treatment of my father had, 
to say the least, been unhandsome. 

When the party returned, Laowni immediately sought me 
upon landing, as she heard vague rumors of my adventure, and 
was not sure that I was killed. She was overjoyed to see me ; 
rubbed her nose against mine in token of affection; threw her- 
self upon my neck, and wept tears of joy at my safety. Ahoun- 



20 

del h'rrrelf made a sort of half apolcgy, and excused himself 
by recapitulating the suspicious circumstances against me. 
Laowni was clamorous in her complaints of my treatment, 
and even appealed to her father by asking him how he would 
like such usage if he was a stranger in London. 

Laowni drew all the particulars of the attack from me, and 
worked herself into such a rage with Isamadow, the friend 
who struck my hand, that she ran up to him and struck him 
with her codjic, or small wooden knife. It was a severe blow 
that she dealt him, and he had no refuge but flight, being be- 
low her in rank. The others who had assisted in abusing me, 
thought it necessary to propitiate me with presents before they 
ventured into the canoe-house. Ahouadel was much better 
pleased with Laowni's attack upon Namadow than 1 was. He 
ealltd her "brave" for it: not exactly to her face, but as any 
father among us would rather commend than regret the pranks 
of a 3poiled child ; for such was Laowni, his only daughter. 

Our shipmates lengthened their visits some days after their 
capture under the suspicious circumstances of running away 
with George and me. Ahoundel had the justice to present 
them with a new canoe ; the civility to invite them to prolong 
their visit, and the delicacy to restore their property so s^on 
after the explanation, that their visit could not seem a deten- 
tion forced by the lack of means of escape. 

After remaining restricted principally to Nutt for about two 
years, George and I determined upon an excursion, cost what 
it might. After an abortive attempt to get away in a borrowed 
nigurt's canoe, we obtained a larger one and started. To 
avoid suspicion it was borrowed, as launching one of my own 
would have been attempted with a parade that would haveled 
my honored father-in-law to suspect even more than was my 
intention. I had taken the precaution to note on a plaintain 
leaf the names of the other islands and their chiefs. Five or 
six hours brought us to Chocoich, and upon nearing the chiefs 
canoe-house, George struck upon his fife, flute, or cudjong, a 
lively tune, while I kept the canoe in motion. When we 
reached the landing a host of the natives, many of whom had 
never before seen us, were ready to receive us. With Wajor, 
the head chief, we remained one night, and were feasted and 
entertained, A like reception we met at other islands which 
we visited in sucession, occupying nearly a mopth in the trip 
Possessed of the names of the chiefs, it was my custom upon 
ascertaining the name of the island to enquire for its chief, to 
whom I first paid my respects. George's flute and my looking- 
glass were assurances of good reception, as their fame and ours 
had preceded us. 



21 

Notwithstanding the representations of Ahoundel, that we 
were in danger of being eaten if we ventured out his sight, 
nothing but the most courteous treatment was received by us. 
My tattooing, speaking my relationship to Ahoundel-a-Nutt, 
was better than letters of introduction. We were frequently 
accompanied from island to island, and nigurs were put into our 
canoe to save us the labor of propelling it. During a month 
thus most aoieeably spent we met all our shipmates. These 
meetings were indeed the most pleasant part of the excursion, 
as the reader will well imagine. My friends were much divert- 
ed at the respect paid me on account of my tattooing; so far 
was it carried that the natives often insisted upon my shipmates 
sitting down, as a token of respect to Jem Aroche alias 
Ahoundel-a-Nutt, alias James O'Connell. 

But, the most wonderful adventure made during the excur- 
sion, the relation of which will put my credit to a severer test 
than any other fact detailed, was the discovery of a large un- 
inhabited island ; upon which were stupendous ruins of a 
character of architecture differing altogether from the present 
style of the islanders, and of an extent truly astonishing. At 
the extreme eastern extremity of the cluster is a large flat is- 
land, which at high tides seems divided into thirty or forty small 
ones by the water which rises and runs over it. It differs from 
the other islands in its surface which is entirely level. There 
are no rocks upon it which appear placed there by nature. Upon, 
some parts of it fruit grows, ripens and decays unmolested ; as 
the natives can by no persuasion be induced to gather or touch 
it. My companions at the time of discovering this island, 
were George and a Nigurt ; the latter having directed our at- 
tention to it, promising us a surprise — and a surprise indeed it 
proved. At a little distance the ruins appeared like some of 
the fantastic heapings of nature, but upon a nearer approach, 
George and myself were astonished at the evident traces of the 
hand of man in their creation. The tide happened to be high, 
our canoe was paddled into a narrow creek ; so narrow that in 
places a canoe could hardly have passed us, while in others, 
owing to the inequality of tbe ground, it swelled to a basin. 
At the entrance we passed for many yards through two walls, 
so near each other that, without changing the boat from side to 
side, we could have touched either of them with a paddle. 
They were about ten feet high ; in some places dilapidated, and 
in others in very good preservation. Over the tops of the wall, 
cocoanut trees, and occasionally a bread fruitspread their branch- 
es, making a deep and refreshing shade. It was a deep soli- 
tude, not a living thing, except a few birds being discernible. 
At the first convenient landing, where the walls left the edge of 



22 

the creek, we landed ; but the poor Nigurt, who had seemed 
struck dumb with fear, could not be induced to leave the boat. 
The walls inclosed circular areas, into one of which we enter- 
ed, but found nothing upon the inside but shrubs and trees. 
Except the wall there was no perceptible trace of the footsteps 
of man, no token that he had ever visited the spot. We ex- 
amined the masonry, and found the walls composed of stones 
varying in size from two to ten feet in length, and from one to 
eight in breadth, carefully propped in the interstices and cracks 
with smaller fragments. They were built of the blue stone 
which abounds upon the inhabited islands and is, as before sta- 
ted, of a slatose formation, and were evidently split and adapt- 
ed for the purpose to which they were applied. In many 
places the walls had so fallen that we climbed over them with 
ease. Returning to our canoe we plied our Nigurt with ques- 
tions ; but the only answer we obtained was " Animan !" He 
could give no account of the origin of these piles, of their use, 
or of their age. Himself satisfied that they were the work of 
Animan, he desired no farther information, and dared make no 
inspection, as he believed them the residence of spirits. We re- 
turned to the island of Kitti, where we announced our intention 
to inspect the ruins on the next morning. It was with difficul- 
ty we got away from the islanders, who declared that our lives 
would be forfeited to our temerity. Arriving a second time at 
this deserted Venice of the Pacific, we prepared for a deliberate 
survey. We paid several visits to these ruins, but could find no 
hieroglyphics or other traces of literature. The walls had evi- 
dently been built by a people dissimilar to the Indians on the 
inhabited islands, and the latter persisted in declaring that they 
were the work of spirits. 

At length I began to tire of exploring and to long for home ; 
for, strange as it may appear, my consort Laowni; savage 
though she were by classification, made my island home quite 
an attractive spot to me. Upon my return to Nutt, I found my 
wife and father had learned my wanderings, by report from 
the islands I had visited. Laowni was rejoiced to see me, and 
Ahoundel pronounced George and me brave, for venturing as 
we had among strangers. We soon had a chance to put this 
recommendation to the test ; for we were informed that Wa- 
jaica-Hoo had declared war against Ahoundel-a-Nutt, on ac- 
count of my marriage. It appeared that Laowni was promised 
to him previous to my arrival. The daughter never much af- 
fected the match, as'Wajai was old and the husband already of 
something like a dozen. 

Ahoundel, after stating the cose, asked me if I was willing 
to fight, and as I saw no honorable mode of escape, I consent- 



23 

ed ; but George showed the white feather and positively 
refused. Preparations were immediately made to visit Hoo, 
and "carry the war into Africa" by answering Wajai's chal- 
lenge at his door. Natives to the number of about fifteen hun- 
dred were mustered, from Nutt and the contiguous small 
islands called Hans and Param. The order of sailing was 
thus: Moonjobs (the highest rank) to the right or in the van ; 
Jerejobs (the second rank) next, the Nigurts bringing up the 
rear. Each canoe was furnished with smooth stones, which 
were stowed in the bottom ; and each native was furnished 
with a sling, a spear, a bow and arrows, and war club. The 
day and place had been appointed with all the circumstance 
of a duel; or rather of an ancient joust at arms, with the ex- 
ception that there was no stipulation or limitation as to force 
on either side ; each party bringing all the strength he could 
muster. Wajai was prepared to receive us, though with an 
inferior force: his canoes were ranged in the water, in front 
of his settlement, and as soon as we were near enough to dis- 
tinguish features, our chief Ahoundel, and Wajai, sprang simul- 
taneously to their feet, upon the platforms of their canoes, and 
flourishing their spears, set up a shout of defiance, the conches 
blowing an accompaniment. The inferior chiefs upon both 
sides then rose and joined in the cry, and the engagement 
commenced with hurling the stones with slings. These stones 
are seldom less than a pound in weight, and are thrown with 
tremendous precision, the parties being from thirty to forty 
yards apart. Several canoes were broken and sunk on both 
sides, and many men killed. The stones exhausted, arrows 
and spears followed, and the parties nearing each other, till the 
battle was canoe to canoe, and hand to hand. Tho natives 
would seize each other by the hair, and thrust with a small 
wooden spear or lance, without barbs, and cut the flesh with 
sharp shells. In the onset Wajai was killed by one of the 
party id our canoe. A shout of joy on one side, and a mur- 
mur of grief on the other, suspended the battle a moment ; but 
it was soon renewed with unabated fierceness. At length we 
forced a landing, and the vanquished or broken foe, failing to 
prevent it, also sprung on shore, and disputed every inch of 
ground, to the very dours of their houses. The land engage- 
ment was fought with the jagged spear and war clubs. An 
hour and a half of hard fighting brought us to the estate of 
Wajai. The women had long before deserted the houses, 
taking with them such of their effects as they conld convenient- 
ly transport, and the men, fairly overpowered, fled to the inter- 
ior. Our party plundered the houses of whatever moveablee 
were left, set fire to them, and returning to the beach, broke up 



24 

the canoes of the foe ; and taking with us the spears, mats* 
and other plunder, we returned to Nutt. We brought back 
such of our own dead as we could find, and the body of Wajai 
and other chiefs who fell upon the other side. The usual pre- 
parations of jagow and dog venison were made, and the bodies 
of Wajai and his chiefs were burned : but previously to the en- 
ure consumption of the bodies by fire, the heart of Wajai wag 
taken out, and presented to the chiefs on a large plaintain leaf. 
When it was eaten or even tasted I cannot say, as I was not 
present at the ceremony. The presumption, is however, that 
eating the hearts of the chiefs killed in war, is a custom with 
them. 

It was in the early pajt of the month of November, 18S3, 
that I discovered a vessel from Nutt: the first vessel that I am 
positive of seeing while on the island of Bonabee. My com- 
rades often said they saw vessels, and I frequently imagined 
that I did, but none approached near enough for us to distin- 
guish their class. • It was about sunrise in the morning when 
I first discovered her, and I called up George immediately. 
We ran to the top of the nearest hill, and anxiously watched 
her, as well as the mist and occasional rain would permit, for 
it was a dull morning. After we had satisfied ourselves that it 
was a European or American vessel, we ran down to the chief 
and informed him that there was a vessel in the offing, and that 
we wished to board her. He was not half so much elated at 
receiving the information ai we were in imparting it. He 
eyed me some moments — " What !*' said he, " a ship !" Cho ! 
cho ! (no, no.) I repeated my assurance, and led him to the 
hill. My wife and the whole household followed. George and 
I bounded about for jo} T , skipping up the hill, as if our feet 
could not serve us fast enough. The pace of our companions 
offered something of a contrast : they were still incredulous, 
and my wife and father were evidently hoping against the 
truth of my discovery, as they saw in my joy anything but a 
pleasant indication of my feelings respecting remaining on the 
island. I pointed out the vessel, and showed them that it was 
not a war- canoe. I repeated my request for a canoe, assuring 
Ahoundel that I would make the vessel sit down, or come to an 
anchor. At the canoe-house, whither Ahoundel, Laowni, my 
children, and others followed me, Ahoundel granted his unwil- 
ling consent that 1 should go off to the vessel, following it up 
with questions, while Laowni anxiously watched the expres- 
sion of my face for an answer. " Do you love your wife ? Your 
children ? Do you love them much— very much ? Will you 
certainly return V\ To all this I answered yes, yes ; and my 
heart smites me now, as I recollect the gratified expression of 



25 

my wife's countenance upon receiving the assurance. Blunt 
plain man that I am, I could hardly disguise my joy at the hope 
of an escape, although at times, as I looked at Laowni and her 
children, and the thought of Ahoundel's kindness intruded 
itself, 1 could hardly conceal my grief at parting. A large 
canoe was prepared to launch, but the tide was out. We were 
obliged to wait for it two full hours ! Oh ! the impatience we 
felt — the snail-like progress of time ! Knowing perfectly well, 
had we been cool, the time of the tide, still we could not avoid 
running down every ten minutes to look. Meanwhile I prepar- 
ed a quantity of tortoise shell, yams, bread-fruit, and cocoanuts, 
to take off to the captain. We watched the vessel — she tacked 
and stood off — our hopes fell — she stood back again — we were 
reassured. She hove too, and we were happy till we recollected 
that we were tide-bound. 

At length the tide served us to launch the canoe. Ahoundel 
and Laowni accompanied me to the boat, the former reminding 
me of my promise to bring him trinkets, the latter melancholy, 
and half doubting that she should see me again. There was a 
fleet of some dozen canoes beside mine. I was accompanied by 
Keenan, a young chief, and two Nigurts. We went outside the 
reef, and had neared the vessel so that we could distinguish the 
men on her decks, when the Nigurt who had the steering-oar, 
let the canGe get into the trough of the sea. There was a 
tremendous sea on, and it was carelessness on my part to let 
the paddle go out of my hand. We were swamped. As is 
usual with the natives, we all jumped overboard ; two taking 
the out-rigger side, and the others striving to bait the canoe. 
There was, however, too much sea running and all endeavors to 
bail the boat proved futile, while the tide and the swell were 
drifting us towards the reef- A-fter imminent danger of drown- 
ing, George and I reached the reef. On gaining the rocks, I 
attached my mat to the pole of the outrigger and made signals 
of distress ; but the men in the schooner, supposing us to be na- 
tives, paid no sort of attention to it. We were two or three 
hours on the reef before we were discovered by the natives, and 
were taken off. One of our party — the Nigurt who remained 
with the canoe — was drowned. 

Upon reaching Nut, Ahoundel was astonished with the story 
of our escape, coupled as it was with the loss of the Nigurt. 
He was astonished that two white men should prove more for- 
tunate swimmers than a native. At night the schooner stood 
off, and in the morning she was not to be seen. At length I 
saw a speck — it was the schooner ! A half hour more and the 
tide was right. The vessel, standing in, was now distinctly 
visible, and prepared with a fresh load of tortoise shell and pro- 



26 

visions, with George and twoNigurts, I set sail again! When 
we reached the schooner she was hove to, with her boarding net- 
tings up, and her men mustered, with boarding pikes and mus- 
kets at hand. Two or three other canoes got alongside at the 
same time that we did, and others Were coming off. We passed 
uoder her stern, and read the words (i Spy, of Salem." She 
was brig rigged forward, and schooner aft. Passing round to 
her weather bow, I sung out, u shipmates ! throw us a rope's 
end — will you .?" There was a bustles on deck, a buzz of sur- 
prise, but no answer ; and in a moment I heard somebody ex- 
claiming — " Captain, the natives on this island speak English." 
The anxiety to get a peep at us through the boarding netting 
was now redoubled fore and aft. One of the men, after much 
hesitation, threw us a rope, and the captain came to the gang- 
way and asked us on board, requesting us to keep the natives 
in the canoe, which we did. The captain did us the honor to 
ship the side-ladder for us, and George and I needed no second 
invitation to come on deck; but, taking up the tortoise shell 
with us, directed the natives to pass up the yams. To my first 
question the captain answered that the name of the island was 
Ascension, the group being laid down as one island on the 
charts. 

After some conversation with the captain, the schooner filled 
away again, and we stood off, with a fleet of canoes in tow ; 
dashing and splashing through the water, their outriggers foul 
of each other, getting continually carried away. 

, I undertook to pilot the Spy inside the reef, to an anchorage, 
at Captain Knight's request. At four or five o'clock in the eve- 
ding, she came to an anchor in the harbor of Matalaleme. By 
the natives who went that night to Nutt, 1 sent Ahoundel a 
large broad axe and an adz, and to Laowni I sent beads, red 
kerchiefs, and other trinkets ; while George and I remained on 
board, afraid to trnst ourselves ashore again. 

Like all other cowards, Captain Knight was cruel, and aveng- 
ed attempts at petty pilfering, by murdering the natives. In 
consequence of this conduct we were soon compelled to leave 
the islands. Fairly out of the harbor of Matalaleme, the de- 
portment of Captain Knight materially changed toward us. In 
about fourteen days we made Guam, one of the Marian Is- 
lands, and here Captain Knight would have left us, but the 
authorities would not permit it. After leaving Guam, I had some 
altercation with Captain Knight. During the whole passage I 
had been sick from a cold, exhaustion, fatigue and derangement 
of my whole system, from the change of diet. I was lying one 
night on the iieel of the bowsprit, when Captain Knigh ap- 
proached and gave me a kick. tl What business have you here 



27 

asleep, sir ? H I pleaded my weakness and ill health, and he 
collared me ; I returned his grasp with interest, when he freed 
himself, and running aft procured a brace of pistols. He did 
nothing but talk, however; but on our arrival at Mantilla, he 
charged George and me with being runaway convicts from 
New-Holland, mutineers, pirates, devils, witches, hobgoblins, 
&c. &c. &c: Accordingly, we were put in chains, carried on 
shore, and deposited in the calabozo. 

Upon entering, we found ourselves in a sort of reception room, 
more convenient for its purposes than genteel or elegantly fur- 
nished. It was separated from the rest of the prison by an iron 
grating, through which the friends of the prisoners conversed 
with them. Through this grating we saw a large hall, tenant- 
ed by prisoners, but were ourselves passed up a flight of stone 
steps, communicating with the second story. Here, with Chi- 
nese, Malays, Spaniards and Creoles, were we locked up. 

Sailors, many of whom visited us, were in the frequent prac- 
tice of making us small presents. With the money thus ob- 
tained we sent and purchased bread and meat, but the eyes of 
Argus were necessary to prevent verification of the proverb, 
"many a slip 'twixt cup and lip." Even after our bit of meat 
was in the pot with the rice, and we were superintending its 
cooking, some dexterous Chinese thief would whip it out with 
his chopsticks, if our eye strayed from it one moment. Each of 
the prisoners is obliged to prepare his own food, in a portion of 
the prison set apart for that purpose. 

All sorts of ingenious modes of punishment were practised 
upon the prisoners for misdeeds while there. It would almost 
seem the Chinese ingenuity of torture, tempered by a little more 
regard for humanity than the officers of his Celestial Majesty 
possess. Stocks, confining the culprit in all sorts of positions, 
many of which were as ludicrous as uncomfortable, clogs, irons, 
and collars, and devices the description of which would tire, 
were in continual exercise. Flogging was going on all day, 
but the poor devils of Chinese came in for more than a propor- 
tionate share of it, and the blows were laid on with more hearty 
good will, as they were heretics. 

^ We were not without amusement. George had brought his 
violin and flute, of coarse, and I had not forgotten the exercise 
of my heels. Then in the various assemblage there was ample 
amusement in watching the different disposal of time, according 
to character. The Chinese were most of them merchants, in a 
small way, vending tobacco, betel, and other " notions," as a 
Yankee would say; and there is no better word in the world. 
Stock in trade was not wanting, while there was a chance to 
exercise their ^expert fingers in tricks of sleight of hand. Others 



would operate as barbers, tailors — they had a thousand re- 
sources for busy idleness. Spanish blood showed itself in games 
of chance — cards, draughts, dominoes; and the parties would 
set as gravely and intently engaged as if they had been recrea- 
ting in the palace of a grandee. An occasional industrious one 
wove hats ; and cooking their pilau was the- periodical occupa- 
tion of all hands. 

We were never brought to trial, and I amused myself by writing" 
letters to such English and American residents as I could hear 
of. The American Consul and Mr. Sturgis — an American resi- 
dent — visited us about a week after our committal, and to the 
latter gentleman I am much indebted for his kindness. 

I indulged in an occasional game of draughts with one of my 
fellow-prisoners, a Spaniard. One day he tried to cheat me 
and we quarelled. Asa punishment, I was ordered into the 
lower prison, and George was moved with me. This apart- 
ment sacred to the lowest rogues, was by no means so pleasant 
as the upper one. Here I assumed the amusement of des- 
patching letters ; continuing it until, one day, the deputy jail- 
or came to me with orders to put me in close confinement. I 
resisted, and in the scuffle was severely bruised, and my rig- 
ging dismantled. In order to give me food for reflection, I 
was seized down to a bench and beaten with cow-hides. Not 
to fatigue the reader with a history of my sufferings and de- 
privations in this prison, and the brutal conduct of the Ameri- 
can Consul, I will say that no trial took place. I had been 
imprisoned to satisfy the malice of Captain Knight, and it was 
not pretended that any thing could be proved against me. 
We left Mantilla in a Spanish vessel and went to Macoa. 
From Macoa we were sent to Canton. From Canton we sail- 
ed in the Elizabeth, Captain Rudkin, for Halifax, at which 
port we arrived in September, 1335. We had a pleasant pas- 
sage ; George's flute and fiddle enlivening the day watches, 
and to complete the band. I manufactured a drum out of a half 
barrel, by stretching a sheep skin over one head. 

Arrived at Halifax, we found the cholera raging. Captain 
Rudkin wished Keenan and myself to remain by the vessel, 
but we had a mind to travel the United States, and therefore 
declined. We set out on foot for St. John's, having put our 
baggage on board a vessel bound thither. We arrived before 
the vessel, and upon her arrival we went to the health office 
for permission to take out our baggage. 

?' Your baggage ! — where are you from ?" 

"Halifax/' 

" You are!'' (retreating,) c; and how did you get there ?" 

"By land!" 



29 

u Stand back! back! — the cholera is raging there, and you 
may have caught the infection !" 

George, having been taken ill, was sent to the hospital on 
suspicion. There I left him, shipped on board of an American 
schooner, and arrived in New York in the fall of 1835. 

Thus ends my narration. I have nothing further to say, only 
I am at present in a Circus Company, and from what I have 
seen in my multifarious wanderings over this wide world, I 
think this company renders the greatest attraction and variety 
in the United States, the performers being of the highest order, 
gentlemanly in their deportment, and praiseworthy in their per- 
formance. 




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